Scott County commission approves purchase of truck

BENTON -- Scott County commissioners approved the purchase of a 2000 model box truck during their regular meeting Thursday to store and deliver election supplies.

Commissioners accepted the apparent low bid of $7,995 from Don Bogue.

"This truck, I rented it in April and it serves the purpose," said County Clerk Rita Milam.

The cost for comparable trucks at Cape Auto Sales began at $13,900 on their Web site, according to Milam.

The purchase will be made using Help America Vote Act funds allocated by the federal government to purchase handicapped-accessible and second chance voting machines.

"This truck is needed to deliver those machines," Milam said.

The HAVA funds are earmarked money that can't be used for other purposes, Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger noted.

In other business Thursday:

* Commissioners agreed to meet at 1 p.m. Monday to tour the Lincoln-

Gloryland Community Center, which is located in the old Lincoln school building, and look at the services provided there at the invitation of Bishop Charles Green of the Gloryland Community Development Corporation in Sikeston.

Green is seeking the county's sponsorship for a Community Development Block Grant application for $300,000 to purchase the 22,600 square foot building.

Gloryland has leased the building since 2002, according to Green.

* Commissioners noted they will not meet May 8 as the courthouse will be closed for Truman Day, a state holiday.

* Students from Sikeston, Dexter and Bloomfield in Steve Butcher's high school law enforcement class at the Sikeston Career and Technology Center visited with commissioners as part of their tour of the county seat.

"We're here for the day," Butcher said. He said the students would be sitting in on a court session and had already toured the jail. "It scared me," said one student.

All but two counties in the state, St. Louis and Jackson, are governed by commissions made up of three members, Burger said.

"We take care of the county budget and county problems," Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn said.

Commissioners explained they also are tasked with the responsible spending of county tax revenue.